Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I wrote my column today about the strange -- and welcome -- behavior Coach John Fox has been exhibiting lately.

Fox has pulled the trigger on a QB change only two games into the season, benching Matt Moore in favor of 23-year-old rookie Jimmy Clausen. He also went for it on fourth down four times in Carolina's last game (there have been seasons in Charlotte where Fox has only gone for it on fourth down eight times the entire year).

It's an interesting phenomenon, one predicated, I think, by Fox knowing he's a short-timer here in his ninth season and wanting to leave no stone unturned as he tries to avoid, say, the 4-12 season that Moore looked like he was arrowing toward.

What's weird is how different of a guy Moore has seemed on the field this season. He's so indecisive, so inaccurate.... remember, he was 6-2 as a starter going into this season. But now he's lost his confidence, which is why I applaud what Fox is doing with Clausen (see the next blog post for more on that) as he tries to save the Panthers' season.

14 comments:

Darin is an idiot
said...

The only reason Fox pulled the plug on Matt is because he wasnt emotionally attached to him like he was to Jake. If Delhomme was still here he would have stuck with him for the whole season unless he was injured. Rumor has it that Fox is still very heartbroken that Jerry cut his boy toy and let him go to Cleveland

LOL @ rumor has it. Idiots like you are the rumor sources. 1 minute you say stuff like Fox only replaced Delhomme because if an injury. The next minute you say the injury was faked. You tards crack me up.

Fox...I mean Mr. Anonymous, Ill admit I wondered too if the injury was faked at the beginning. But seeing just how fragile Jake has become over the past 4 seasons I beleive it was legit. Plus I caught you kissing his finger at practice every day hoping and praying it would feel better.

OK Scott tell us..Has the o-line protected him? has the runnung game worked so far? are the receivers getting open and CATCHING the ball? and who are the receivers comapared to last year?One of you gets started with something and you all piggy back. Would you have the same cofidence and who is to say he lacks it with all the others issues? He looked frustrated after Gettis quit on the long reception and Rasario drop and even Smith dropped one. What is he supposed to do throw it run and catch it. Run block for himself oh! and pass block for himself. A totally diff. offense and defense at the start of the 4th whan clausen came in.How bout let Moore throw it on 1st down one time to losen up the defense?

It's pretty easy to look inaccurate and indecisive when teams are gameplanning against you because the games actually matter, rather than throwing their third-stringers (literally, that's what happened in each of the '07 Bucs, Seahawks, and '09 Saints games) out there and telling them to do their best. Moore is NOT an NFL quarterback, and he never will be

12:26, that totally different offense wasn't a coincidence. The coaches knew they didn't have a scared little girl under center any more. They had a decisive, talented player who will lead this team for the next decade.

Michael you arent looking very intelligent with that last comment. Also i believe i read somewhere that the Seahawks started their first string when Moore played them back in 07, i could be wrong about that though.

Fox has shown a change in his behavior as of late but his play calling is consistent - run on first and second down and pass on third and long. Will this ever change with new QB? Everyone in the stadium and at home watching can tell when panthers are running the ball. I bet on the first down opponent can play without CBs and panthers will still run the ball.